Air Fryer French Fries
Crispy outside, fluffy inside, with barely any oil.
Before You Start
Proper chips from the air fryer: crisp and golden outside, fluffy within, on a fraction of the oil of deep frying. Soaking the cut potatoes first rinses off surface starch, which is the trick to real crispiness.
Instructions
-
Cut the potatoes into 1 cm batons. Soak in cold water for 15 to 30 minutes to draw out starch.
-
Drain and dry the chips really well with a towel. Toss with the oil and salt.
-
Preheat the air fryer to 190°C / 375°F. Add the chips in as close to a single layer as you can.
-
Air fry for 18 to 24 minutes, shaking two or three times, until deep golden and crisp.
-
Season with more salt while hot and serve straight away.
♨️ Air fryer notes
- Cook at 190°C / 375°F and preheat for 2 to 3 minutes for the crispiest result.
- Keep everything in a single layer with space around each piece. Overcrowding steams food instead of crisping it, so cook in batches if your basket is small.
- Shake or turn halfway, and check a few minutes early, since air fryers cook faster than ovens and every model runs slightly differently.
💡 Cook's tips
- Dry the chips thoroughly after soaking. Any water left on them turns to steam and stops them crisping.
- Cook in batches if you have a small basket. Overcrowding makes soggy chips.
🔀 Make it your own
- Toss the cooked chips with garlic powder and parsley, or parmesan.
- Cut thinner for shoestring fries, checking a few minutes earlier.
📦 Storing & reheating
Best fresh. Re-crisp leftovers at 190°C for 3 to 4 minutes rather than the microwave.
❓ Frequently asked
Why soak the potatoes first?
Soaking rinses off surface starch, which otherwise makes the chips stick together and go gummy. It's the single biggest tip for crisp fries.
Which potatoes are best for fries?
Floury, high-starch varieties like Maris Piper or Russet fry up fluffy inside and crisp outside. Waxy potatoes stay dense.
Adapting your own recipe? Use the oven to air fryer converter for temp and time, or the recipe scaler to halve or double this.
More air fryer recipes
A note on cooking safely. Recipes are provided for informational purposes only and are not medical or nutritional advice. Cooking times, temperatures and quantities are suggestions: use your own judgement, and check that meat, poultry, fish and eggs are properly cooked before serving.
Consult a qualified healthcare professional before making dietary changes, particularly if you have allergies, a medical condition or specific nutritional requirements.